Features
Will quiet Sino-Russian stranglehold damn West’s moves to source more uranium from Kazakhstan?
Brief halt at Kazakh-Canadian producer sparks investor concern and suspicion over Moscow factor.
COMMENT: Business and Government in a new partnership for Uzbekistan’s future
Just a decade ago, the idea of building a modern ski resort in Uzbekistan felt like wishful thinking. Its snow-capped mountains were admired for their beauty, but few imagined they could attract international tourists, athletes or investors.
UKRAINE REMONT: Cement sector ready for reconstruction
Ukraine’s cement producers are confident they will be able to produce enough of the material to fully cover domestic demand during reconstruction.
India and Pakistan face-off following killing of 26 tourists as water politics comes into play
After the killing of 26 tourists, tensions are boiling over between India and Pakistan. The perpetrators of the attack, The Resistance Front, is widely believed to have ties to the Pakistani state and military.
Nusantara: Indonesia’s grand ambition to reshape its future
While the announcement came in 2019, formal actions commenced in 2021. A special committee was formed to deliberate, including a study trip to Kazakhstan - another country that had relocated its capital.
Montenegro mega beach deal reignites debate over UAE investments in Western Balkans
A plan to develop Montenegro’s Velika Plaza beach has become the latest battleground in a growing backlash against UAE-backed real estate deals across the Western Balkans.
INTERVIEW: Georgian opposition leader Giorgi Vashadze
Vashadze regards the incumbent Georgian Dream government as a “double-faced” Kremlin agent: ostensibly committed to Western integration, but in reality deliberately sabotaging Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future in favour of closer ties with Russia.
Russia's expanding pull in Africa is pushing Western influence out
Moscow’s expanding presence in Africa has largely unfolded in silence, but the shift it represents is profound. Like in the game of Risk, Africa’s sheer size and its treasure trove of untapped raw materials is becoming increasingly important.
China exports Xi Jinping Thought to Mongolia
Centuries of deep-rooted mistrust of Chinese mean many Mongolians will see release of translated key works as nothing more than propaganda.
China doubles down on Cambodia ties amid global trade tensions
Amid economic uncertainty, the world is redirecting investments toward Southeast Asia as countries increasingly recognise the strength of regional cooperation.
How Europe has weaned itself off Russian gas in the last three years
In 2021, Eastern European countries imported almost half of their gas from Russia. Only two countries in the region – Albania and Kosovo – were wholly independent of Russian gas.
Is Oman the 'Switzerland of the Middle East'?
Oman stands apart in the Middle East for its consistent adherence to neutrality, a quality that has led observers to frequently describe the sultanate as the "Switzerland of the Middle East."
URUS-ClearPic: The Big Four of US, China, Russia and Europe vie for investment in Central Asia
Historically, it is the ultimate crossroads between Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia – and the central component for most of the Silk Road. Now the Central Asian countries find themselves caught between the Big Four.
Azerbaijan’s president eyes China as key strategic partner
Baku is deepening ties with Beijing ahead of President Ilham Aliyev’s upcoming state visit to China as it seeks partners outside Western-dominated frameworks.
Indonesian President Prabowo’s Middle East mission: Humanitarian diplomacy or saviour complex?
President Prabowo Subianto’s recent Middle East tour, framed as a humanitarian and diplomatic initiative, is raising both eyebrows and hopes as he positions Indonesia as a key moral actor in the Gaza crisis.
Retail markets in Zagreb, Ljubljana and Belgrade hold “significant potential”, says CBRE
The retail real estate sectors in Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia are showing strong potential for further development, according to new research by global real estate consultancy CBRE.
Armenia courts African countries to supply diamond industry
Armenia is seeking partnerships with African producers of rough diamonds to ensure a stable supply for its diamond processing industry and diversify away from sanctions-hit Russian suppliers.
Russian VTB Bank says will open branch in Iran next year
Russia's VTB Bank has announced plans to open its first branch in Iran in the coming year, marking a significant development in financial cooperation between the two countries, an official with the bank said.
The $3.56mn bribe behind Indonesia’s cooking oil crisis
The latest corruption scandal in Indonesia has sent shockwaves through the nation, revealing a web of bribery involving high-ranking officials, leading business figures, and even the Chief Judge of the South Jakarta District Court.
Hungarian PM Orban’s line on Ukraine hardening as Trump tries to bully the EU into making concessions to Russian demands
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s opposition to Ukraine joining the European Union is intensifying, bolstered by US President Donald Trump, who has upended Western support for Kyiv.